Skirt-protector.



L M. RAWSON. SKIRT PROTECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 1, 1909.

955,687. Patented Apr. 19, 1910.

IN VEN 70H 5' Zdafagjiawson 1 I 4,arrows/s M:xuniw a GRAHAM co. Phew-UNIOGRAPHERSwAsHmGTon n c IDA- MAY Rawson, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

SKIRT-PROTECTOR.`

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 19, 1910.

Application filed April 1, 1909. Serial No. 487,216.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IDA MAY RAwsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, county and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Skirt-Protector, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is a skirt protector, which is adapted particularly to protect the lower hem or edge of a skirt. Vhile some features of the invention are available for skirt protectors which are adapted to be permanently secured in place, yet, in the preferred form of the invention, theprotector is detachable and is adapted to be readily placed on, or removed from, the skirt.

It is well recognized that womens skirts, asv ordinarily worn, are not only very unsanitary because of the fact that the bottoms thereof absorb moisture, dust, etc., necessarily carrying germs, bacteria, etc., but, moreover, that the said edges become frayed and worn, thereby diminishing the durability of the skirt, and presenting an unsightly appearance.

The present invention overcomes, among others, the specifiedv defects and disadvan` tages inherent in ordinary skirts in that it embodies means whereby the bottom hem' or edge of ,a skirt is protected by a sanitary non-absorbent waterproof material, and which material may be thoroughly cleansed and disinfected without in any way inter-- fering with the material of which the skirt is composed. The main body of the material entering into the construction of the protector is, preferably, rubber or rubber fabric, and while the protector may be' readily attached to, and detached' from, the garment, it is provided with means for preventingthe same from collapsing and sagging. When the protector is adjusted on the skirt, it is hardly noticeable, and, if desired, it is made of a color corresponding'to, or harmonizing with, that of the skirt, and by virtue of the slight additional weight added to thelower edge of the skirt, it' assists in improving the hang of theskirt.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one practical embodiment of the invention, but the construction shown therein is to be understood as illustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my protector applied to the lower bottom edge portion of an ordinary dress skirt. Fig. 2 is a detail' perspective view of the protector detached from a skirt. Fig. 3 is a vertical section illustrating in full lines the position assumed by the protector when applied to a skirt, the dotted lines showing the manner of' adjusting the protector to, or removing it from, a skirt. Fig. 4 is a detail view on an enlarged scale illustrating a portion of the protector, looking at the inner face thereof, and Fig.l 5 is a detail view in perspective showing aA part of one of the clamps, each clamp serving, also, as aV means for preventing the protector from sagging or collapsing.

A designates the protector which is in the formvof a' band adapted to be folded upon itself and to inclose the lower edge portion of the fabric, B, composing the skirt, substantially as shown in Figs. l and 3.

The protector is composed of waterproof material, said material being non-absorbent and capable of cleansing from dirt and other foreign matter by washing the same. Vhile any suitable materials maybe employed inv the manufacture of the protector, it is preferred to use a thin web of rubber, or rubber compound or rubberfabric, but any waterproof material' of a pliable or flexible nature may be substituted for the rubber. The protector is of appropriate length and width to extend aroundv the entire bottom edge portion of a skirt, it being preferred to use a substantially endless band as shown in Fig. 2. Said' protector substantially incloses the bottom' portion of a. skirt, and said protector is positioned to extend upwardly from the lower edge of said skirt.

As shown in Figs. l and 2, the protector is in the form of a folded or doubled band, but in the manufacture of the protector, it is preferred to manipulate the material while in aflat or web like condition. When rubber is used? in the manufacture of the protector, itis desirable to provide said protector with means for reinforcing and stiffening the flexible material, and to this end I have shown said protector as having a plurality of tapes, C, which are secured to, or united with, the inner surface of said protector. The tapes are composed of fabric, or other appropriate material, and when the web or band, A, consists of a strip of rubber or rubber compound, the tapes are united to the inner face of the band by cementing the tapes thereto, or by vulcanizing the tapes thereon. As shown in Fig. 4, two of the tapes are positioned at the longitudinal side edges of band or web, A, whereas a third tape is united to the band at the middle or doubled portion thereof. I do not desire, however, to limit myself to the number of tapes, nor to the particular arrangement of said tapes on the band.

The flexible web or band, A, is of such width that it may be doubled or folded upon itself along the line of the central tape, and the folded or doubled band should be of sufficient width to substantially embrace the lower edge portion of skirt fabric, B, substantially as shown in Figs. l and 3.

As a means for fastening the exible doubled web or band detachably to the skirt fabric, I have shown a plurality of clamping devices, D, which are positioned on the inner face of the band or web. Said fastening or clamping devices may be of any suitable or preferred construction, but each device is shown as consisting of a coil, cl, two arms, CZ, and extensions, cl2. Each clamp may be made from any suitable material, such as spring wire or spring band steel, or any other suitable metal or material. lVhen wire or steel band is used, it is preferred to first bend it in order to produce the coil, CZ, and arms, cZ, after which the ends of said arms are bent at right angles to produce extensions, CZQ. rIhe spring clamps are positioned on the inner face of liexible web or band, A, the arms, cZ, extending transversely across the band, and extensions, cl2, extending lengthwise of said band. As shown, the clamps are spaced at proper intervals along the web or band in order to leave substantial or appreciable intervals of the flexible material composing the web between two adjacent clamps, whereby the clamps do not materially interfere with the flexibility or pliability of the protector, and at the same time the parts composing each clamp add appreciable stiffness or rigidity to the material of the web or band, whereby said web or band is precluded from sagging or collapsing when applied to the skirt fabric. Each of the clamps, I), is secured or connected to the flexible material forming the web or band, A, preferably by attaching said clamp to one of the longitudinal tapes, C. rIhe looped part, d, of each'clamp is fastened in a suitable way, as by stitches, to the central tape, whereas the extensions, cl2, of each 'clamp are fastened by stitches or equivalent means to the side tapes of said web or band. The extensions, (Z2, of the clamps may engage frictionally with the material of the skirt, but in order to increase the eiiiciency of the clamp and secure a firm gripping engagement between the jaws of the clamp and the skirt fabric, it is preferred to roughen the gripping faces of the jaws formed by the extensions, cl2, of the clamp. Thus in Fig. 5 I have shown the jaw or extension, cl2, as having teeth or barbs, c.

The protector is applied to the garment by opening a number of the clamps thereby separating the folded portions of the band, and introducing the skirt fabric between said opened portions of the protector and the clamps, after which the clamps are released and the coils, d, operate to close the clamps and press the side portions of the protector into engagement with the skirt fabric. The operation of opening the clamps and inserting the skirtfabric is continued until the protector is applied substantially to the entire lower portion of the skirt. The protector is pliable or flexible in order that it may conform to the folds or plaits of the skirt, and the weight of said protector adds additional weight to the skirt with a view to improving its hang. By spacing the clamps at intervals within the structure, the pliability or flexibility of the web, A, is not interfered with. The clamps operate to firmly attach the protector to the skirt, and the gripping aws of said clamps preclude the accidental displacement of the protector for the reason that said jaws, particularly if provided with the barbs, will grip the skirt rmly. The arms, ci', of the clamps serve as reinforcing means for the protector, whereas the jaws or extensions, (Z2, serve to stay the flexible material of the protector and thus preclude sagging thereof.

The article may be easily and quickly applied to a skirt and removed in like manner therefrom. The tapes and clamps are positioned wholly within the folded protector or bandso that they are not exposed to view.

In manufacturing the article, the rubber or rubber compound may be colored by the admixture of suitable pigments with the material, and thus the protector may be made to harmonize in color with that of the fabric on which said protector is to be used.

It is evident that the article may be manufactured rapidly and economically by suitable machinery, it being necessary only to unite the tapes to t-he band or web, and thereafter attach the clamps, or equivalent fastening devices, to the tapes.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a skirt protector, a substantially endless waterproof band adapted to be folded over the bottom edge portion of a skirt, members extending longitudinally of the band for stiifening it, and frictional melans for detachably securing the band to a s rirt.

2. In a skirt protector, a waterproof band adapted to be doubled over the bottom edge portion of a skirt, tapes secured to said band, and means attached to the inner surface of said tapes for securing said band to a skirt.

3. In a skirt protector, a waterproof band composed of rubber and adapted to be doubled over the bottom edge port-ion of a skirt, tapes secured to the inner surface of said band, and means attached to said tapes for detachably securing said band to t-he skirt.

4. In a skirt protector, a waterproof band adapted to be doubled over the bottom edge portion of a skirt, tapes secured to the interior portion of the band, means attached to the tapes and coperating with the band for precluding collapsing of said band, and means for securing it to the skirt.

5. In a skirt protector, a waterproof band adapted to be folded over the bottom edge portion of a skirt, a plurality of attaching devices cooperating with said band for fastening the same to the skirt, and members cooperating with the band and extending intermediate said attaching devices for prei cluding the band from sagging in the intervals between the attaching devices.

6. In a skirt protector, a waterproof band adapted to be doubled over the bottom edge portion of a skirt, tapes secured to said band, and spring actuated members secured to said tapes at intervals and adapted to fasten the band detachably to the skirt.

7. A skirt protector comprising a band composed of waterproof material doubled or folded upon itself, and fastening means for securing said band to a skirt, said fastening means being provided with members eX- tending lengthwise of the band and operating to preclude said band from sagging in the intervals between the fastening means.

8. A skirt protector comprising a band composed of waterproof material doubled or folded upon itself, and skirt attaching clamps fastened at intervals to the band, transversely thereof, said clamps being provided with members extending lengthwise of the band and operating to preclude the band from sagging in the intervals between said clamps.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

, IDA MAY RAWSON. Witnesses:

MILTFOR BISHOP,

FREDERICK I-I. ALLEN. 

